10 Reasons Not to Get a Credit Card

Having worked for many years as a debt counselor, Paul is passionate about consumer rights when it comes to persaonal finances.

There are many reasons not to get a credit card, including high interest rates, excessive charges, and the risk of creating a debt spiral that you can't escape from. This article aims to list and detail the main downsides. | Source

With credit so readily available nowadays, and credit cards being advertised and promoted as a convenient way to shop and spend, getting one or more cards is a temptation that most find hard to resist.

There are many downsides to credit cards, however. The main basis of them is that the credit companies make their money from users making financial mistakes.

Many people struggle to avoid spending beyond their budget, and with the discipline involved with monitoring and paying off their debts.

I list the main reasons below why you should think twice before getting one.

1. Costs

They are an expensive way of borrowing money. Interest rates on credit cards are usually very high compared with other methods of borrowing, such as taking out a personal loan. Added to that are all sorts of other costs and fees that the credit card company adds on.

Why don't we call on the credit card companies to be accountable? They need to be held accountable for their predatory lending practices.

— Paul Wellstone

2. Fraud

As with all electronic methods of payment, you can can be defrauded by unscrupulous people out for financial or material gain, or your card can be employed as a tool for identity theft.

Unscrupulous people can use credit cards to access users' personal details and financial information. Using credits cards means always being aware of this and keeping track of statements and bank balances. | Source

3. Credit Ratings

Many people get credit cards with the aim of building their credit rating. Ratings only improve if all the payments made are big enough and paid on time. If your earnings fall for some reason and the payments aren't kept up, a user's credit rating goes downhill rapidly causing all sorts of problems.

"High bankruptcy rates, increased credit card debt, and identity theft make it imperative that all of us take an active role in providing financial and economic education during all stages of one's life."

— Ruben Hinojosa

Not everyone has a personality compatible with the financial discipline needed to use a credit card. Spending beyond your budget is extremely tempting. Monitoring your spending is time-consuming. Keeping up with statements and dates is no fun. | Source

4. Discipline and Debt

It takes a lot of financial discipline to use credit cards. Care must be taken not to overspend, even when there are temptations to do so. Spending needs to be monitored, statements read, balances paid off. Failure to do these things can lead to serious debt problems.

"Social security, bank account, and credit card numbers aren't just data. In the wrong hands they can wipe out someone's life savings, wreck their credit and cause financial ruin."

— Melissa Bean

5. False Promises

Price deals, points, and cashback deals obtained by using them often aren’t so great when charges and interest payments are added into the equation.

Managing a credit card is not easy. There is a temptation to spend beyond your budget. Monitoring your statements and payments regularly also takes a lot of effort and discipline, especially if you have multiple credit cards. | Source

6. Card Management is Difficult

Keeping track of all your debts and payments can become a major issue, especially if users have multiple cards, and other debts or loans. Three cards means three lots of statements and payment deadlines to deal with each month. With money coming in and out all the time, it can easily become confusing.

What Wall Street and credit card companies are doing is really not much different from what gangsters and loan sharks do who make predatory loans. While the bankers wear three-piece suits and don't break the knee caps of those who can't pay back, they still are destroying people's lives.

— Bernie Sanders

7. Too Easy to Use

Credit cards are are just too easy to use in some circumstances. Their convenience often means that users often don’t explore all their options - taking out a loan might be cheaper and more appropriate, for instance. The ease of use can also have negative financial consequences for people who have issues with impulsive behavior.

Being in debt is stressful for many people, and credit cards are no exception. Some people prefer the peace of mind of not having a credit card rather than all the anxiety and fretting than can involved with them. | Source

8. Stress

Owing money is in itself stressful for many people. It can cause anxiety, anger, and even mental illnesses such as depression in extreme cases. There is peace of mind in not having to worry about all your debts and how you are going to pay them off each month.

9. Minimum Payments can be Deceptive

Credit companies make their money mainly from users making financial mistakes. Sure, they want you to pay off your debt, but they also want you to hold on to your debt for as long as possible. Minimum payments are set very low, often only 2% to 4% of what you actually owe, so that you pay more interest over time.

It is imperative that we make consumers more aware of the long-term effects of their financial decisions, particularly in managing their credit card debt, so that they can avoid financial pitfalls that may lead to bankruptcy.

— Daniel Akaka

Credit cards are often promoted for their convenience, especially for travel purposes. Many companies charge the user large fees, however, making them an expensive way to spend money abroad and a less desirable method for making purchases. | Source

10. Foreign Transaction Fees

International travelers often discover to their detriment that many credit cards charge foreign transaction fees for the use of credit cards outside of the U.S. The fees can be as high as 3%, making it a costly way to spend in other countries.

Questions & Answers

It may boost your credit score slightly and will certainly reduce the amount of interest that you are paying, so it's certainly great in that respect. Generally speaking however, creditors are more interested in consistency over a long period, so making regular payments on time will increase your credit score more in the long run, albeit in a gradual way.

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